Biting Off More Than I Can Chew

I haven't managed to get any birding time in today because I decided to try and make my house a bit less 'Bohemian' today by sorting out a few of my small piles of books, after all I moved in almost a year ago so it's about time I did something with them. I reckon I've got a couple of thousand in total an so it was no easy task! I managed to get a few bookcases filled but still had one small pile left over like so:

A couple of weeks reading matter.

I didn't want to answer the front door anyway! I must get rid of a few of these (after I've read them of course). Know anyone looking for a book? You may be seeing me at a car boot sale near you soon! (well, not soon... that'd be a lie, you won't catch me standing around selling books in a field the WINTER!!!)

I'm going to try and get some birding in tomorrow even though I have this little lot to find a home for, not to mention a certain 'houseplant' that may still need my attention!!!

I have a little bit of bird news from yesterday. I stopped briefly at The Farm Gate and was very pleased to see that a few discerning Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings had found the islands on Black Hole Marsh.

Drenched Again!

This morning having looked at the weather forecast I decided to take Rex for his walk on Beer Head and go down into Under Hooken, rain not having been forecast until after lunchtime, light rain at that! I arrived there just after nine and the second I stepped from the car it started 'spitting'. I wasn't too deterred and carried on cheerfully, thinking of all those lovely warblers I'd soon be ticking. The rain just got worse and I eventually found myself down in the undercliff sheltering under a small tree.I stayed put for about forty minutes, because at least I could use my (non-waterproof) bins there. This was my view:

There were plenty of birds in the area despite the weather but nothing even remotely scarce. I didn't see a single warbler of any description and only heard a Chiffchaff. I only stayed put for so long because I was hoping for a break in the rain. It just got worse though. I moved on eventually when Rex's pitiful 'whinging an doin' started gettin on me wick ! Not that long ago he'd have been off exploring on his own but recently, since he's begun loosing his senses (in more ways than one!), he's more reluctant to leave my sight. He still thinks sheltering under trees is for wimps though!!

"Oh come on mum, you wimp!!"

On my way back just at the foot of the steps I heard the distinctive call of a Firecrest in the brambles. I stood there in the rain like a fool for about ten minutes waiting for it to show (which it didn't) , why I did this is anyone's guess! I'd only seen one yesterday! I hadn't had the foresight to wear my beautiful binbag suit either so needless to say I arrived home drenched.

I think I should take less heed of the forecast and look to the wisdom of our forebears and the weather lore passed down through generations. Such gems as:

'Sky red in the morning is a sailor's sure warning; Sky red at night is the sailor's delight.'

Bacause on getting out of bed this morning I saw this:

Very Red Indeed.

I should have listened to what Shakespeare said about it in 'Venus and Adonis' “Like a red morn that ever yet betokened, wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field, sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds, gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.” Then I wouldn't have thought it would just be a little bit of drizzle, would I? I had been warned!!!

Truly Stunning

Firecrest Quest

This morning I took Rex for one of my favourite winter walks from Seaton Hole to Jubilee Gardens in Beer. It's a good choice for several reasons:

1) The steep climb up to White Cliff is extremely good for the Gluteus maximus and the quadriceps, as well as being good cardiovascular exercise, thus allowing for my continued ample consumption of cakes :-)
2) This strenuous exercise also causes me to be lovely and warm by the time I reach the top, no matter how cold the weather.
3) The route throughout it's entirety has been thoughtfully tarmaced, thus allowing me, my designer dog and slingback shoes to remain mud free even in the wettest of weather.
4) Best of all there is a pretty good chance of seeing one or more Firecrests (definitely one of my favourites), which overwinter here each year.

There is however one major drawback. In any weather conditions apart from persistent rain it's busier than Seaton Town centre!!! I most often go when it's raining funnily enough.

Here's a picture of the path just entering Jubilee Gardens with Beer Beach in the background. The shrubs to either side of the path here are a favourite haunt for Firecrests as are the large Holm Oaks in the gardens themselves.


Today I was fortunate enough to get really good views of a Firecrest in one of the said Holm Oaks, it was feeding in the canopy but eventually came down to branches just feet above my head, there may have been a second and there were also several Goldcrests. I got out the s3, waved it in the right general direction in customary fashion and pressed, I got one shot and the viewfinder went black. Words appeared - "Change the batteries!!" Doh! I always carry a spare set in my bag but I had taken them out on Monday because the bag had got really wet and then forgotten to put them back! For the record, and your amusment here's the shot I got:

Stunning no?

Not to worry 'here's one I made earlier', last year in fact on Beer Head but it's a good excuse to get some more milage out of it.

This is what it should look like.

There was a lot of ivy in flower and this was being visited by many bees, look at this Honey Bee (well I think it's one) gorging itself, pollen sacs a-bulging.

Pollenfest

I could see a distant flock of Scoter on the sea but couldn't make out the Surf Scoter among them from so far away, it was there apparently, so I popped down to the yacht club to look at it. The sea was flatter than of late and the sun obligingly slid behind a cloud for a few minutes allowing me good views of the flock feeding on crabs. You've probably already seen Steve's stunning shots of the Surf Scoter, but that's not going to stop me showing you mine, they're a little on the naff side!

Surf Scoter to extreme left, really!

Quality close up!

While looking out to sea from the house this afternoon I could see that they were much closer. I rushed up to the yacht club with my scope thinking of getting yet another quality close up. I was just in the nick of time to see a motor boat speeding in towards the harbour and the flock of Scoter flying out to the horizon. Pants!